793.94/9895: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 4—7 a.m.]
648. The American, British and French Commanders-in-Chief have today directed a communication to the Japanese Admiral and the Chinese military commander in the Pootung area calling attention to the consequence of an artillery duel which took place about midday on September 3, between Chinese guns in Pootung and Japanese warships in sections 5, 6 and 7 of the Shanghai harbor. They point out that several shells fell in the International Settlement south of Soochow Creek and in the French Concession, causing 40 or 50 casualties, [Page 305] and that serious damage was caused to property in Pootung. They contemplate that if these engagements continue and possibly become more general the safety of the foreign areas will be seriously involved and life and property further endangered. They, therefore, recommend and request that in order to avoid this state of affairs and in order to preserve the safety of the foreign areas under their protection, the Chinese and Japanese forces should be withdrawn as follows: (1) Japanese naval forces to withdraw below section 7 of the river. (2) Chinese forces in Pootung to withdraw to the eastward of Pootung Road and south of Changkadu Creek.
Sent to Nanking. Repeated to Department and Tokyo.